Judge Sentences Man For Robbery, But Commends Him

The sentencing yesterday of convicted armed robber Husan Ayed "Sam" Madain of Allentown certainly was different from most.

U.S. District Court Edward Cahn repeatedly said Madain posed no threat to the community. Again and again he commended Madain for rehabilitating himself.

"You had plenty of time to get into trouble after the first instance and didn't," the judge said.

When Cahn sentenced Madain to 90 weekends of jail time in the work release unit of Lehigh County Prison, the defendant thanked him.

And when the proceedings broke up, FBI Special Agent David Rowe, the investigator in the case, went over to shake Madain's hand, wish him luck and add, "Let me hear from you."

This was the case involving the armed robbery of three New York coin and precious metals buyers at the Quality Inn, Whitehall Township, in June 1980. About $40,000 was taken.

Four men carried out the robbery, including Madain. Two are serving about five years each on their admission of their involvement. A third man fled to Syria. The fourth was Madain, who was convicted of the robbery and conspiracy before Cahn this summer.

Peter Belletieri of Allentown and Hazleton was tried this fall as the mastermind of the operation and acquitted.

Madain at his own trial denied his involvement. But at the Belletieri trial, he testified as a prosecution witness - admitting he was a masked gunman in the robbery and saying he watched Belletieri count the loot at a South Allentown garage.

At yesterday's session in the Old Lehigh County Courthouse, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Scheff pointed out this was a robbery, that Madain held a gun and that he profited by $4,500 from it. And he said the government didn't condone the perjury Madain committed at his own trial.

But he added that Madain has expressed a willingness to pay back that $4,500. He said Madain was a follower, not a leader in the crime. Further, Madain cooperated with the government in the Belletieri case, Scheff said.

Still, some punishment is required, perhaps some work release arrangement, Scheff said.

Defense counsel Stanley Vasiliadis of Bethlehem said Madain is 26 and was about 19 when the robbery took place.

"He comes from a stable family background," Vasiliadis said. "His father is a retired member of the Jordanian Air Force. A brother and two sisters live in Allentown."

Vasiliadis said the family came to this country in 1975 and settled in Allentown in 1978.

Madain has been a maintenance worker at Muhlenberg College the last three years and has continued in that employment even since his conviction this summer.

Cahn noted that Madain's superiors at Muhlenberg testified strongly in his behalf at his trial. They said he was the best maintenance worker the college had and was entrusted with the keys to the entire campus.

The judge stressed he would make every effort to see that Madain kept his job.

The defendant's father, Ayed Madain, ina tearful voice said his son was a good guy. "He was 19," the father said. "I ask you by American justice to help my son."

The defendant himself said, "I do feel bad about what I did, and I ask forgiveness."

Cahn offered the defendant a choice of sentences:

- A split sentence of six months in a federal prison at government expense, then 4 1/2 years' probation.

- Six months work release at Lehigh County Prison and then the rest of the time on probation. But that would involve Madain himself paying $40 a day ($280 a week) for his keep at the prison.

- The 90 weekends in the work release facilities at Lehigh County Prison, again at $40 a day paid by Madain, with five years' probation to run concurrently.

Madain consulted with his attorney, then picked the third option.

Cahn suspended a prison sentence of five years, ordered him to serve weekends in the work release quarters at the prison from 7:30 a.m. Saturdays to 9 p.m. Sundays, starting Jan. 5.

The probation time is also to run from Jan. 5. And Cahn ordered Madain to begin payment of restitution after he serves his 90 weekends.

"I think he will be a model prisoner," Cahn said.

A spokesman at Muhlenberg was pleased with the sentence. "We need Madain," he said.